What Car? News

16 Aug 13, 10:08:00

We’re a varied bunch of people, and drive each other's cars regularly, so we find out what the cars on test are like from a wide range of perspectives. Each week we update our reports, giving you the insider track on what these cars are like to own. Simply click on the links below to get the latest on our cars or scroll to the bottom to see video updates of our cars. Audi A3 Sportback Run by John McIlroy, editor Audi A3 weekly updates BMW 3 Series GT Run by John Bradshaw, chief photographer BMW 3 Series GT weekly updates Dacia Sandero Run by Matthew Burrow, consumer reporter Dacia Sandero weekly updates Ford Focus ST Run by Euan Doig, production editor Ford Focus ST weekly updates Honda Civic Run by Rob Keenan, senior sub editor Honda Civic weekly updates Honda CR-V Run by Will Williams, staff photographer Honda CR-V weekly updates Jaguar XF Sportbrake Run by Mark Pearson, database editor Jaguar XF Sportbrake weekly updates Kia Carens Run by the What Car? road testers Kia Carens weekly updates Mazda 6 Run by Stephen Hopkins, art editor Mazda 6 weekly updates Mini Paceman Cooper S Run by Emma Butcher, consumer editor Mini Paceman weekly updates Peugeot 208 Run by Tom Webster, content editor Peugeot 208 weekly updates Range Rover Vogue SE Run by Chas Hallett, editor-in-chief Range Rover weekly updates Range Rover Evoque Run by John McIlroy, editor Range Rover Evoque weekly updates Renault Captur Run by Ed Callow, deputy content editor Renault Captur weekly updates Renault Twizy Run by What Car? staff Renault Twizy weekly updates Skoda Rapid Run by Barnaby Jones, web test editor Skoda Rapid weekly updates Toyota Prius+ Run by Alex Newby, associate editor Toyota Prius+ weekly updates Volkswagen Up Run by Rory White, road tester Volkswagen Up weekly updates Updates from our long-term test fleet. ]]>

16 Aug 13, 10:08:00


One of this week's hottest packages is available on the three-door A3 1.4 TFSI S line; drivethedeal.com can save you more than £2000, lowering the price to £20,931. That's even the same engine that won COTY in the A3 Sportback; just be careful about the S line's suspension spec (we'd recommend de-selecting the Sport set-up, which is a no-cost option).

The A3's bigger brother, the A4, is getting on a bit, but it's still a premium small executive saloon or estate that has real appeal at the right price. Audi's push on S line has benefits here too; you can pick up a the A4 Avant 2.0 TDI 177 S line for £25,923 (again through drivethedeal.com), saving more than £5800 on the list price.

If you're after space in a smaller package, meanwhile, Citroen's C3 Picasso is one of our favourite small MPVs. Broker Perrys.co.uk has an excellent offer on the small diesel version of the car, the 1.6 HDi 115, in Exclusive trim; you can save £4870, lowering the price to £12,995.

Remember that more than 40 of the week's hottest new car deals are posted every Friday at whatcar.com. Click here to see the latest offers.

By John McIlroy]]>

14 Aug 13, 08:08:00


The GLA is the fourth car in Mercedes' new 'compact' line-up, following the A-Class, B-Class and CLA-Class. It uses the same front- and four-wheel-drive chassis parts as those cars, albeit with modifications designed to give it greater ride height. Unlike the A-Class, where the engineering focus was on sporty handling and agility, the GLA is said to be set up primarily for comfort.

At 4417mm long and 1494mm high, the GLA is around 120mm longer and 60mm taller than an A-Class. It's longer but lower than both the Q3 and Evoque, though, so it still looks like a beefed-up version of a regular family hatchback rather than a full-blown SUV (more in tune with BMW's X1, in fact). Mercedes has included extra plastic body cladding around the wheelarches and along the flanks, plus metal-finish front and rear bodyguards, to give the GLA a more rugged look.

What are the engines?
Mercedes is pitching the GLA above the A-Class, so that car's more modest engines (including the Renault-sourced diesel), won't be on offer here. Instead, the line-up will start with the GLA200 petrol (with 154bhp), and the GLA200 CDI (134bhp), both with front-wheel drive.



The four-wheel-drive models, badged 4Matic, will get more powerful engines: the 168bhp GLA220 CDI (which could well prove to be the best-selling variant overall), and the GLA250 turbocharged petrol, with 208bhp.



Mercedes' seven-speed dual-clutch auto gearbox will be standard across the range, but a six-speed manual will also be available as an option.

The GLA's four-wheel-drive system defaults to front-wheel drive in most conditions (to cut emissions and fuel consumption), but it can transfer up to 50% of the drive to the rear when required.

The default suspension set-up on all models (even AMG Sport), will be Comfort, but a stiffer Sport setting will be offered as an option.



What's it like inside?
If you've seen an A-, B- or CLA-Class already, then you won't be too surprised by anything on offer in the front of the GLA, because it shares almost all of its dashboard and fascia with those cars. Mercedes' latest circular air vents (as originally seen on the SLS supercar), are still present, although they get a slightly different chrome surround, with deeper textures.



Thankfully, the fake wood trim shown here will not be offered in the UK. Instead, British buyers will have a choice of finishes such as metal, carbonfibre effect and 'Piano' black.

The dashboard's layout is familiar enough, though, with the large central screen and Mercedes' infotainment system controller between the front seats. As with the A-Class and CLA-Class, over-the-shoulder visibility is affected by the thick rear pillars, but the front of the cabin feels spacious enough.



You do sit slightly higher than in an A-Class; the seat position is raised by about 30mm, although it would be incorrect to call it lofty. Mercedes UK is also considering offering an even higher suspension set-up (as an option), that would lift it further.

The higher seating position and a taller roofline make it slightly easier to get into and out of the GLA than the A-Class (and much more so than the CLA saloon).



The boot space is larger than an A-Class's, at 421 litres with the seats in place, and 836 litres with them folded down completely. An optional 'Load Compartment package' will move the rear seat backs to a more upright position, freeing up a further 60 litres of load space while still allowing passengers in the rear.

The boot itself looks squarer and more useful than the A-Class's, and there are luggage hooks integrated into the plastic mouldings at either side of the compartment.



The standard equipment list is still being finalised, but even entry-level SE models will get all of the body cladding seen here, plus 18in alloy wheels (the car in these images is on 19-inchers), digital DAB radio and leather- effect upholstery.

An optional panoramic glass roof with integrated front sunroof will be available; there's still enough rear headroom for adults up to six feet tall if this is chosen. Regular GLAs will get conventional front seats, while one-piece sports seats will be optional, or standard on AMG Sport models.

How much will it cost?
Well-placed sources say the GLA's pricing will start at around £25,000, so slightly less than the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, and around £5000 less than the cheapest Range Rover Evoque. That entry-level car will be front-wheel drive, though; factor in Merc's 4Matic transmission and the more potent engines required for that set-up and the figure is likely to be more like £28,000 – or around the same as Audi's 175bhp Q3 diesel.



A high-performance GLA45 AMG will launch later next year, with the same four-wheel-drive system and the A45 AMG's 335bhp engine, priced at just over £40k.

Read Mercedes reviews >>

By John McIlroy]]>

14 Aug 13, 07:08:00


Skoda is claiming that the revised line-up of its popular SUV is being 'split in two', with a distinction between urban-focused models, which get body-coloured bumpers, and more rugged versions, which retain black plastic items.

The styling tweaks include new headlights that are available with bi-xenon technology for the first time, redesigned tail-lights that can be LEDs, four new designs of alloy wheels, and a range of new colours, including four new metallic finishes.

In truth, though, the most significant changes come in the cabin (with new seat fabrics, trims on the fascia and a fresh steering wheel design), the engine and transmission line-up, and the standard equipment list.



The engine line-up has three turbo petrols - including a 1.2 unit with 103bhp, and a 1.4 with 121bhp - and four diesels, including a 1.6 with 103bhp and a 2.0 with 138bhp or 168bhp. The most powerful of those 2.0-litre diesel engines is the range-topper; it will be offered with four-wheel drive and an automatic six-speed dual-clutch transmission.



The cleanest model will be badged Greenline and will be based on the front-wheel-drive version of the car. As with the current model, it gets a 1.6 TDI engine with 103bhp and a six-speed manual gearbox. CO2 emissions remain the same, at 119g/km.



Current Yeti features, such as the fold-down backrest of the passenger seat, folding teams on the front seat backs, bottle holders, and fold-down hooks in the boot, are all retained. There are also new interior features, such as a double-sided floor covering in the boot, a detachable LED light, a vest holder under the driver's seat and a waste container in the side of the door.



A rear parking camera (the first on any Skoda production car) will be offered as an option; it brings Optical Parking Assistant, which can reverse parallel park the car automatically.



The new Yeti will make its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show next month, and sales should begin at the start of 2014.

Read the Skoda Yeti (current car) review >>

By John McIlroy]]>

26 Jul 13, 08:07:00


It's the eighth year in a row that the Japanese company has secured the top spot in the poll, which includes 38 manufacturers across Warranty Direct policies on vehicles of between three and eight years of age.

Brands from the Far East dominate the top 10 of the survey. Suzuki and Hyundai finish second and third behind Honda, with Subaru and Toyota completing the top five. Only Chevrolet and Ford manage to break the stranglehold, finishing in seventh and ninth places respectively.

The bottom three places in the manufacturers table are all filled by premium brands - Porsche (36th), Land Rover (37th) and Bentley (38th). Their poor showings are compounded by relatively high repair bills.

The most reliable models overall are the Mitsubishi Lancer and Vauxhall Agila - and they're also the cheapest to repair.

Most reliable used car brands

Listed below are the most reliable used car brands based on claim data from Warranty Direct. Due to the huge differences between the best and worst performers, cars with average reliability and better are placed 12th and above.

1. Honda
2. Suzuki
3. Hyundai
4. Subaru
5. Toyota
6. Lexus
7. Chevrolet
8. Mitsubishi
9. Ford
10. Mazda
11. Nissan
12. Fiat
13. Citroen
14. Skoda
15. Peugeot
16. Daewoo
17. Smart
18. Kia
19. Seat
20. Vauxhall
21. Volkswagen
22. Mini
23. Renault
24. Rover
25. Saab
26. BMW
27. Volvo
28. MG
29. Jaguar
30. Mercedes-Benz
31. Audi
32. Jeep
33. Chrysler
34. SsangYong
35. Alfa Romeo
36. Porsche
37. Land Rover
38. Bentley

By John McIlroy]]>

25 Jul 13, 04:07:00


There's still a reasonable selection of drop-tops out there - but which should you choose? You'll almost certainly have accept some compromise on practicality, given that the roof is likely to be stowed in an area that would otherwise be used for luggage space. However, if you choose carefully then it is possible to pick a convertible that offers the sort of usabililty that you need for everyday use. Here are five of our recommendations:

Mini Roadster
The Mini Roadster won the Best Open-top Car gong in our 2013 Car of the Year Awards, and with good reason. It feels every inch the little sports car, thanks to its sharp steering and grippy handling. Go for the Cooper S version and you'll get performance to match, too, with 181bhp from a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine.



The Roadster is a two-seater, of course, but both driver and passenger will have plenty of space and even the boot is a useful size, at 240 litres. Throw in a quirky cabin with a lot of high-quality materials, and rock-solid resale values, and you have that rare combination: a thrill-a-minute drop-top that's also a sensible proposition.
Our pick: Mini Roadster Cooper S

Read the full Mini Roadster review >>

Audi TT Roadster
The Audi TT Roadster is getting on in years, but it's still an awesome car for the money - and a better offering than rivals from BMW and Mercedes. Choose the front-wheel-drive, 208bhp TFSI turbocharged petrol model and you'll get flexible power delivery, more than enough performance for everyday use and steering that keeps you informed on what's going on.

The rest of the TT package remains strong, too; it's still a striking design, the cabin remains one of the most stylish and classy around, and you may even be pleasantly surprised by resale values and fuel economy. As much as any convertible can be a great all-rounder, this is it.
Our pick: Audi TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI 211 Sport

Read the full Audi TT Roadster review >>

Citroen DS3 Cabriolet
The Citroen DS3 has been an enormous hit across Europe, and the open-topped version of the car deserves to build upon that success. Note the word 'open-topped' instead of 'drop-top', because the DS3 Cabrio isn't a convertible in the traditional sense. The side pillars and rear glass remain in place; you just push a button and the fabric roof slides back, then gathers where the rear hatchback is on a regular DS3.

The 1.6-litre turbocharged model has 154bhp, enough for pleasingly rapid performance, and the chassis set-up offers decent agility. Only vague steering and crashy low-speed ride let the side down. Still, you do get a chic, classy cabin, and more rear cabin space and boot space than you'll find in a Mini Cab or a Fiat 500C. Throw in the DS3's personalisation options and you end up with an appealing, customisable model.
Our pick: Citroen DS3 Cabriolet 1.6 THP 155 DSport

Read the full Citroen DS3 Cabriolet review >>

Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet
Buyers of convertibles can be more focus on style than on-road dynamics, and the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet is a prime example of a vehicle designed to appeal to that thought process. Its handling set-up is refined but unrewarding, and compromises have undoubtedly been made on rear passenger space and rear visibility in the name of those classic Beetle looks.

Still, stick to the more modest models - in particular the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol edition - and you can get an open-topped cruiser with bags of style, a roomy front cabin and a surprisingly large boot. It won't be a thrill a minute, but it will be a comfortable, refined companion that offers open-air motoring when Britain's weather allows.
Our pick: VW Beetle Cabriolet 1.2 TSI 105 Design

Read the full VW Beetle Cabriolet review >>

Porsche Boxster
The winner of the Sports Car category in our 2013 Car of the Year Awards, the Porsche Boxster is one of those rare creations: a convertible that's also sensational to drive. The Boxster's six-cylinder engines (2.7 and 3.4 litres) are both flexible and powerful, and the car's handling is a delicious blend of agility and supple ride quality.

You get a beautifully built interior, two small load spaces that can cope with enough luggage for a weekend away, and impressive residuals. Sure, the standard kit list is a little stingy and things can get silly money-wise if you start playing around with the options list - but keep it simple and the Boxster is unbeatable at this price.
Our pick: Porsche Boxster 2.7

Read the full Porsche Boxster review >>

By John McIlroy]]>

24 Jul 13, 09:07:00


In fact, there's never been a better selection of new cars for four figures. Here are our top five recommendations for under £10,000. Remember, too, to use What Car?'s Target Price feature to haggle down the bill as much as possible; even a few hundred pounds off will make a big difference in percentage terms when you're talking about cars at this price.

Skoda Citigo
The Skoda Citigo is part of a three-strong line-up of vehicles that share lots of components, including chassis, gearboxes and engines. However, Skoda's offering tends to be a little cheaper than the sister cars from Volkswagen and Seat - and that makes it a terrific cheap buy.



The spec we'd recommend is SE, which brings air-conditioning, electric front windows, stability control, front and side airbags, and a CD player - and all for less than £9000 (or a little over it, should you want five doors). Some of the best deals can be had on PCP and using Skoda's finance, though. Stump up a decent deposit here and an entry-level Citigo can often be yours for less than £80 per month. That's astonishing value for a brand new, perfectly acceptable piece of transport.
What Car? Best Buy under £10k: 1.0 60 SE

Read the full Skoda Citigo review >>

Dacia Sandero
The Dacia Sandero made headlines as Britain's cheapest new car when it was launched, thanks to an entry-level price of just £5995. That figure alone is impressive enough; more surprising still is that it buys you not a city car-sized runabout but a five-door, Fiesta-rivalling supermini that can cope with four adults and plenty of luggage.

In truth, the £5995 Sandero isn't the model that we'd pick; it's cheap, true, but the standard equipment list is the shortest you'll find in any showroom (you don't even get a light bulb in the boot). Instead we'd opt for the mid-spec Ambiance, with a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. It's not particularly refined or exciting to drive, but at well under seven grand, it offers phenomenal space and practicality for the money.
What Car? Best Buy under £10k: 1.2 Ambiance

Read the full Dacia Sandero review >>

Hyundai i10
The Hyundai i10 is the model which brought a real sales breakthrough for the Korean brand in the UK - and we can see why. For starters, the little five-door city car is terrific to drive, with responsive, direct steering, a pleasant gearshift and fine manoeuvrability around town.

Even with a replacement on the horizon (due at the start of 2014), the i10 can make excellent sense as a sub-£10k purchase. Go for the 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine in Classic trim and you'll get air-con, electric front windows and a CD player with a USB port - and all for not much more than £8000. Haggle hard with our Target Price and you should be able to cut as much as £1000 off that figure - making the i10 exceptional value for money.
What Car? Best Buy under £10k: 1.2 Classic

Read the full Hyundai i10 review >>

Volkswagen Up
The VW Up uses many of the same parts that you'll find in the Skoda Citigo, but it costs a bit more. Still, its combination of a slightly classier interior and nice touches like the all-glass rear hatch did enough to earn it our overall Car of the Year title as recently as 2012.

Our favourite Ups tend to be more expensive versions such as the High Up - but you can still get a Move Up, which brings air-con, central locking and a split rear seat, for just over £9000 - or just under it, if you haggle hard. It's perhaps not a great all-rounder, because the lower-powered engine in this version will struggle on motorways, but if the bulk of your miles are in town, this is still a very tempting proposition at this money.
What Car? Best Buy under £10k: 1.0 Move Up 3dr

Read the full Volkswagen Up review >>

Ford Fiesta
Our 2013 Supermini of the Year generally costs more than £10,000, but a couple of three-door models do sneak under that figure if you're prepared to haggle hard (a tip - use our Target Prices to get an idea of what's currently available).

You won't be able to expect much standard equipment from the basic Studio spec, but if you can work the salesman down to under £10k for the 1.25 60 Style then you'll get air-con, radio/CD with AUX and USB connectivity, remote central locking and a slightly plusher cabin. The 1.25-litre petrol motor won't tear up asphalt, but the rest of the Fiesta package will compensate through sweet steering and one of the best-judged suspension set-ups that you'll find on any car.
What Car? Best Buy under £10k: 1.25 Style 3dr

Read the full Ford Fiesta review >>

By John McIlroy]]>

22 Jul 13, 11:07:00


The i3 will cost £30,680 outright, but this price will drop to £25,680 when a government grant of £5000 is taken into consideration. This means the car costs around the same as a top-spec Nissan Leaf, but around £10k more than a range-topping Renault Zoe.

BMW has also confirmed that the car will be available on a contract hire deal; customers pay an initial £2995 (including VAT), then a monthly £369 (including VAT). The contract lasts three years and includes 8000 miles per year.

The prices issued today are solely for the full-electric i3, which has a range of between 80 and 100 miles. There will also be a range-extender version that includes a two-cylinder petrol engine to keep the electric motor's battery pack from running flat. It's expected to cost around £2500 more than the EV version.



BMW has not issued details of equipment and trim levels (sources say that at least two types of infotainment screen will be available, for example), but it has confirmed that UK-spec i3 models will get AC Fast Charging as standard. This can take the i3's battery from zero to 80% charge in just three hours, and perform a full charge in four hours.

The system can use BMW's optional i Wallbox, which can be installed at the customer's home; BMW says it is lining up energy partners who can offer 'green electricity' to make these wallbox charges emissions-free.

If an AC Fast Charging point is not available, the i3 can be charged using a regular household socket. This set-up is much slower, at eight to 10 hours for a full charge.



Buyers of the i3 are also likely to be offered packages of 'conventional motoring', through which they can get access to a regular petrol or diesel car for a specified number of days per year. This could allow an owner to drive an i3 through the year, then swap it for a diesel X5 to take on an annual skiing holiday, for example.

Details of this scheme, and full specs, are expected to be announced at the car's global reveal in London next week.

Read the BMW i3 prototype drive >>

By John McIlroy]]>

17 Jul 13, 12:07:00


Do I really need a small family car?
Small car performance and quality has now improved to the point where there's not that much to separate the front of a cabin in a car like a Ford Fiesta from one in, say, a Ford Focus. Big-car features like sat-nav, air-conditioning and cruise control are often available on smaller models - so you need to decide how you're going to use the space beyond the front seats, because that's the main difference.

Typically, a supermini will cope with occasional adult passengers in the back seats, and its boot will be big enough to accommodate a decent weekly shop from the supermarket. However, if you want to take grown-ups on longer journeys, or if you need to throw a full child buggy into the boot, then you should consider a larger model.

To help, we've already compared small cars and family cars from some of the leading brands. Read our comparisons of the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus, VW Polo and VW Golf, and Nissan Juke and Nissan Qashqai to see which size of car would suit your needs.

If you do decide that the larger option is required, the good news is that you're spoilt for choice. This is probably the most competitive area of the entire car market, and there's never been a better selection of high-quality cabins, efficient engines and practical layouts.

There are still winners and losers, though, because while pretty much every small family car can cope with four adults and a decent amount of luggage, some will offer more comfort, or better fuel economy, or lower running costs. The very best will star in a few of these areas.

Here are our top recommendations:


Audi A3 Sportback
If you want your small family car to feel premium, you need look no further than our 2013 Car of the Year, the Audi A3 Sportback. It offers amazing refinement and impressive economy, and our testers reckon is has the best interior ever seen in a car of this class.
What Car? Best Buy: 1.4TFSI SE 5dr

Read the full Audi A3 Sportback review >>

Skoda Octavia
One of the worst kept secrets in motoring is that Skoda Octavia shares its underwear with the VW Golf and aforementioned Audi A3 Sportback. If you can live with fewer frills and thrills, in exchange for acres of interior space and a bargain price tag, the Octavia is a cracking choice.
What Car? Best Buy: 1.2TSI S 5dr

Read the full Skoda Octavia review >>

Volkswagen Golf
The VW Golf is a byword for small family car competence and the Mk7 version is a genuinely class act. It has first-class ride and handling, a handsome, fuss-free interior and a range of models that has something for everyone, whether they're after economy, performance or practicality.
What Car? Best Buy: 1.4TFSI SE 5dr

Read the full VW Golf review >>

Ford Focus
If driving pleasure is high up on your list of requirements, the Ford Focus is a must-drive car. We think it is the sweetest-handling car in its class but that isn't all it offers. The Focus is refined and capable - although its real-world fuel economy can be an issue.
What Car? Best Buy: 1.6D Zetec

Read the full Ford Focus review >>

Kia Ceed
There is more to the Kia Ceed than a seven-year warranty but as reasons to buy go, it is right up there. Away from the paperwork, the Ceed has strong diesel engines, striking looks and a nicely screwed together interior. The standard specification is pretty generous too.
What Car? Best Buy: 1.6 CRDi 2 5dr

Read the full Kia Ceed review >>

BMW 1 Series
In terms of badge prestige, nothing can beat the BMW 1-Series in this segment. Rear-wheel drive makes it unique in the class, and a favourite of enthusiastic drivers everywhere. We'd avoid the ES spec models that are short of goodies but in terms of engines, there is not a bad one in the range. For private buyers covering modest miles, opt for the affordable 116i models.
What Car? Best Buy: 116i SE

Read the full BMW 1 Series review >>

Hyundai i30
Hyundai's offering in this segment is the i30 and it is very impressive. The interior quality is far better than you might expect, the diesel engines are impressive and the five-year warranty gives peace of mind and protects residual values. Manual models drive best.
What Car? Best Buy: 1.6 CRDi 110 Blueactive Classic 5dr

Read the full Hyundai i30 review >>

By Nigel Donnelly]]>

17 Jul 13, 08:07:00


The S63 AMG gets a retuned 5.5-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, producing 577bhp and 664lb ft of torque. That's enough to take the two-tonne saloon from rest to 62mph in 4.4 seconds (or just 4.0sec if you choose the four-wheel-drive S63 AMG 4Matic edition), and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph.

Despite the performance, and the hot S-Class's size, the S63 manages to reduce its fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared with the old model. The regular and long-wheelbase S63 AMGs return 27.9mpg and emit 237g/km of CO2, while the long-wheelbase, four-wheel-drive S63 4Matic manages 27.4mpg and 242g/km.



Mercedes claims this greater efficiency is the result of efforts made to lighten the car; it's said to weigh around 100kg less than the old AMG S-Class edition, thanks to lighter wheels, a lithium-ion battery and the use of composite materials in the brakes (offered as an option). Even the spare wheel recess is made in carbonfibre, saving around 4kg.



The S63 gets subtle styling modifications over the regular S-Class, including high-gloss black trim, revised side sill panels, a black rear diffuser and chromed twin exhausts. The exhausts feature active flaps that can either remain closed or open earlier to allow the car's V8 noise to be appreciated.

The cabin features AMG sports seats, a sports steering wheel, an AMG instrument cluster, Nappa leather seats and aluminium gearshift paddles.



The chassis set-up includes Curve Dynamic Assist, which can brake the inside rear wheel during cornering to improve agility. All rear-drive S63 AMGs also get Magic Body Control, which uses a stereo camera to 'read' the road ahead and pre-adjust the car's air suspension in advance of any bumps.

The S63 AMG is due on sale in UK dealerships in the autumn. No prices have been announced, but we'd expect the line-up to start at just over £100,000, rising to around £110,000 for a long-wheelbase S63 4Matic.

Read all Mercedes reviews>>

By John McIlroy]]>